Weak Squares and Outposts | Chess Middlegames

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Identifying and utilizing weak squares in your opponent’s position and safeguarding the weak squares and potential outposts in your own is crucial for winning in chess.
I have chosen this topic for the first video in the series on middlegames because I think that most players miss out on this huge part of chess critical thinking.
What differentiates strong players from the weak is that the strong players, and grandmasters in particular, tend to identify weak squares and concentrate on either weakening them further by removing their defender, or increasing the pressure on the squares, hence gaining a huge positional advantage.
A single weakness could mean the difference between victory and defeat, and potential outposts, how to spot and use them is an essential skill in every chess player’s repertoire.
The first stage in utilizing a weakness in your opponent’s camp is thinking about how squares could potentially become weak. Secondly, you have to imagine squares being undefended; if a pawn weren’t on the board, and the square becomes weak, is it a strong outpost? If a piece is off the board, will I be able to use a particular square? Which of my pieces would like to occupy which square?
Questions like these might seem redundant, but you’d be surprised how many players miss out on huge positional possibilities simply because they fail to ask themselves these questions.
Critical thinking and talking to yourself will help you find potential targets. After you have found them, you have to think of ways to use them.
In the four examples I used in the video, you can see how strong grandmasters started to think of certain squares as holes in the position, devised a plan of how to exploit them, and went on to occupy them with (varying) success.
Training and studying can be hard, and positional and strategical training can be especially exhausting. This method, of studying a position and scanning it for weak squares is one of the most effective ways to improve your understanding in the middlegame.
Example games:
Rustam Mashrukovich Kasimdzhanov vs Susanto Megaranto, 2008 Dresden Olympiad
Sergei Azarov vs Bartosz Socko, Ostrava 2009
Spassky vs Fischer, Rejkjavik 1972 (game 13)
Fischer vs Bisguier, 1963/64 US Championship (round 4)
#chess

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[@HangingPawns]

No problem Maurice:) Thanks for watching

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Subscribed within 5 minutes. No wows, no OMGs, just clear and precise information. Hats off, mate!

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Again the best chess thumbnails on KZbin ever ...creative!

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:) I appreciate that!

[@g.c.5065]

Do you create these yourself ? Or found some help ?

[@walterk.3576]

Sounds so easy because of your great, understandable verbalization of the complex thinking behind ... this is it! A weakness = a potential outpost, a plan = a possible pawn break ... and so on. Please don't stop explaining chess!

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you for the wonderful feedback Walter:)

[@threethrushes]

This is an excellent video. Clear presentation, good examples. Digestible concepts.

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Happy to hear that Gerhard! Thanks for the feedback.

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A playlist with 50 videos and my mind is already blown away halfway through the first one. Amazing stuff my friend

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you call 1400 mediocre?

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[@naveediqbal9450]

Very Informative Lecture, before this video i was always looking for pieces, not have any idea about weak squares, i learned a lot by this video. Bravo Sir , Thumbs Up.

[@HangingPawns]

I'm glad to help Naveed! Yeah, squares are as important (if not more important) than pieces.

[@cpuz]

Dude. This is an impressive list. Amazing collection of topics. Best structured and comprehensive learning material ever. Big thank you

[@trendtap-d6o]

thank you for making this playlist. i couldnt find a complete guide to middlegame but now ive found one!

[@ZachMay569]

Helpful perspectives on positional advantages. For intermediate players like myself it is difficult to spot positional advantages and weaknesses. Again, very enlightening perspectives.

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Love your style and way of explaining. Best thumbnails for any chess channel.

[@Spectatorica]

Great intro, Stjepan! Fantastic!

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Vesna Ćuro-Tomić A very proud mum?

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you my favorite viewer:) Hvala mama!

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@@tsonus And the best mum:)

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Hanging Pawns Of course! 💖

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[@sebarozt]

Absolute gold information and delivery for the ones dedicated to learn more. Thanks

[@PuzzleMountains]

I was in a position similar to your first example, I didn't really see how getting to that square would benefit me. But as soon as that happened, i saw my opponents defense impaired as my pieces took over. A brilliant video, a brilliant channel. Please keep it coming.

[@richardheer]

Thanks!

[@Da_pawn]

Whoa

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you! Excuse the late reply!

[@anzelstudio]

Taking a complex issue and making it easy for us novices to understand. Thank you and keep them coming!!

[@goncalofreitas2094]

I love the way you teach, it makes chess a beautiful and interesting game to learn. Also, very creative thumbnails! Keep up the excellent work, Stjepan!

[@stefantomasic473]

Superb,thank you.Hvala majstore

[@HangingPawns]

Nema problema!

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You have by far the best chess lecture videos on youtube. I gotta add you to my watchlist with agadmator/suren!

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you Ben:)

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You're one of the VERY BEST chess channels on KZbin.

[@muhammedyaseen5438]

everything in this video is appealing!! thumbnail, content, presentation examples - Everything!! Amazing

[@yosef7947]

Bro, excellent video, really, I love this Middlegames concepts. Thank you very much for doing this.

[@diminishedreturn]

I really like the concept of thematic ideas like "finding and utilising weak squares" together with ACTIONABLE information: instead of saying "look for weak squares", we learn exactly what a weak square is by a definition that even beginners can understand and use. 👍🏻

[@jerry9634]

at 08:17 you should show what happens after Bb4. It's interesting that if the bishop moves from the diagonal Nd6 actually traps the queen. Also, when the bishops are exchanged, black could play Nb5, guarding d6. To be more exact u should show these lines too.

[@dinowithacookie8187]

Jeroen Woulnd’t you capture the knight back with the Bishop on B4 tho?

[@DeathEaterLink]

@@dinowithacookie8187 exactly my thought... how are you trapping the queen with the dark squared bishop on b4?

[@TNaizel]

@@DeathEaterLink the queen is trapped if the bishop leaves the diagonal, say after Qc4 the bishop takes the pawn, then Nd6 traps the queen

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Hvala za sve na ovom kanalu.

[@hnalike7778]

Priceless video series. Thanks

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Clear, straight to-the-point lessons. Thank you❤️

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[@abdalrahmanmusleh]

your video changed the way i think, i just played a game after watching the video, my opponent was only trying to attack my bones, i was trying to have a good position for my night and bishop, the game ended with me wining with a Checkmate , so, thank you very much

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I’ve played you on lichess quite a few times and although I watch all your videos you still win every time :(

[@HangingPawns]

Haha:D Sorry for that mate. Blitz isn't really chess though. You should watch the ginger gm or someone else to improve blitz

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True enough. I beat folks at 20 points ahead in Blitz. This is weaker than 10 minute play. Funk dat.

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All of your videos are excellent! Thank you!!

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I freaked out when that cable car thing went by, was watching the board before and took a moment to process what was going on and realise there wasn't a blue monster outside your window

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That bobby ficher play was pure genius

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Very instructive

[@ajarnray4115]

I like this video a lot. I would like to see some more videos where you show how to exploit weaknesses. How to convert the weakness in an advantage that is the most difficult thing for me in chess.

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Your videos are very resourceful. As a newbie your videos helps me develop

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Really good analysis. Subbed!

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Excellent video on middle game strategy. Thank you.

[@AHandMadeFilm]

Superb, excellent and clear explanation, very much appreciate your sharing these insights. Thank you

[@kamilkurzynowski3836]

Absoulutely love it! Great explanation of the key concept.

[@HangingPawns]

Thank you Kamil!

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You're such a great teacher, keep it up,it's impressive

[@michaelvanzyl9418]

Love the intro❤️

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks mate:)

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Thank you so much! Your videos are very helpful for a newbie like me.

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Excellent stuff as always. Thank you. Also loved the intro.

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I loved this video, also I love the intro!

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks and thanks William:) I appreciate the support.

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Best chess instruction on the internet. Thank you, sir.

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Fantastic. Thank you!

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Thank you so much sir for your valuable videos.. Some of the best chess videos i have ever seen. The examples are appropriate and your way of teaching is so great. Thanks for all the hard work. Love from India..

[@dragoscolce]

Another invaluable video! Thanks a lot, Stjepan. So just to make sure I've got this right: a weak square in my opponent's position would be a square that can not be controlled by any of their pawns anymore, but I myself am (or have the possibility of) controlling it with one of my pawns, right?

[@billduran6918]

Wow - great video - thanks!

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I really like the way that you're helping us to be good chess player

[@SC-fk9nc]

You are such a great chess teacher, thanks for this tutorial!

[@posh0610]

Very informative and well explained👍🏽

[@loeksnokes3658]

Beautiful video. It does make me wonder though how often Fischer used the plan of tempting with a great outpost defended by only one pawn, and then trading off to give the opponent a passed pawn that might become a weakness that could later be rounded up!

[@PeterSodhi]

Wow how great is this video.... just added 200 points to my chess.com IQ

[@janpruszcz1927]

Very good job! I understand this concept thanks Your lecture. Thanks a lot. All the best.

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Veoma poucan i jasan snimak, hvala puno! Svidja mi se predlog da pogledamo nekoliko pozicija dnevno, posle dvadesetog poteza i da probamo da nadjemo ta polja. Nisam imao do sada ideju kako da vezbam ovo podrucje sahovske igre. Imam jedno pitanje, kako da proverim posle da li je moja procena ispravna? Ako je to moguce, naravno... Veliki pozdrav, samo nastavi tako :)

[@HangingPawns]

Mislim da ne postoji nacin da tocno provjeris ideju. Mogao bi unijeti poziciju u neki engine (lichess ima besplatan) pa onda vidjeti da li potezi kandidati u sebi sadrže tvoj plan ili ne. Ja najčešće radim tako.

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Hvala puno na brzom odgovoru, svako dobro...@@HangingPawns

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Great vid!

[@aldebran7987]

Great explanation!

[@briandwi2504]

Another classic! So interesting! Thank you!

[@HangingPawns]

No problem Brian! I'm glad you think it's interesting:)

[@Ayanshiswonderlandfamily]

Very useful for me thank you

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Wonderful explanation, I like your dedication to explain in detail.many youtubers don't explain that deep concept.You are the best.hope you continue to teach chess for free after becoming grand master.best of luck for your journey

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Thank you, very useful video

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Like yourself I'm new to Chess and have an ambition of becoming a master one day. These are the most useful videos for my progression I have come across to date and I thank you very very much. I look forward to all the videos to come, and following your progression to GM. Wishing you the best of luck. Hvala puno, pozdrav is Australije.

[@GrimmReaper9090]

22:22 why does it have to be gxf4 here, why can't the bishop on e3 take then it would be an equal game and can prevent the knight from coming to the outpost.

[@michaelqiao7977]

Seconded, am quite confused

[@inaki7233]

Easy, taking the horse is the problem. Not how to take it. Because the queen would be attacked regardless and the g-file would be open.

[@lionsskyblue442]

Thank you for educating us!

[@tyrelljeffries2527]

I looked at some of the other videos on KZbin regarding weak squares that tried to explain what weak squares were and I was completely lost until I came here! What did I learn? A weak square is a square attacked by a pawn unless it is defended by pawn. 2. Good players focus on squares rather than material 3. Get your knight to an outpost. What I still need to know/ would like to know is: Is there a limited amount of particular formations containing pieces and pawns that have weak squares that would necessitate a particular strategy for example: In the Carlson formation attack c6 with the knight and bishop and the opponents rook won't be able to prevent the outpost, however in the Nakamura formation with the enemy Queen and Rook here start by attacking the h7 pawn with the knight and then the Queen and the Bishop wont be able to challenge the outpost here. Also some mistakes have been shown and some preventative strategies have been shown briefly. Can I see some more examples? Perhaps some videos on pawn structural weaknesses to avoid that would result in outposts being created? How do we use outposts? For checkmating attacks? How are these done? Forks? What developmental problems do outposts create for the opponent and how are those weaknesses that are created by those developmental problems exploited? What specific attacking tactics should be employed in this regard? Also if we fall into the trap of letting our opponent establish an outpost how do we defend against the checkmating attacks created by outposts, defend against forks? How do we effectively develop our pieces while our opponent has an outpost in our territory without creating too many new weaknesses? In addition, how do we effectively address weaknesses that already have been created by the outpost? Can we also see some videos on how other pieces such as the Bishop which you mentioned briefly is used as an outpost? Can other pieces such as the Rook or Queen be used to create an outpost? What position necessitates an outpost of a particular piece over the other e.g. a knight over a bishop? Also what kind of developmental structures does an outpost by the each of the different pieces necessitate in our opponent's development and what weaknesses do they create and what specific tactics do they necessitate to exploit?

[@1cathexis]

Stepan, All the videos in this playlist are numbered. But does this mean this is your recommended order of learning? TIA!

[@r0yce]

I'm learning so much from your videos. Thanks.

[@HangingPawns]

Glad to hear that! Thank you!

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Thanks for the great lesson, I realy appreciate it !

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Excellent presentation, and well spoken! If you could slow down a bit, it would make it better. Subscribed!

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Chess is extremely tough 😪 but I love it. Thanks for the lesson.

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GREAT VID thank you so much

[@ctfrancia]

I'd really like your take on ´incentive´ I am a really aggressive chess player, Smith Morra Gambit/ Tennison Gambit/Kings Gambit/ Latvian gambit, basically ANY gambit. I find it so fun and dynamic. However sometimes I run out of gas because I attack too soon vs preparation. A video on recognition vs incentive would be amazing

[@januargumelar3495]

Great video!!!

[@lucaamigoni6282]

Think about weak squares: squares that can't be defended by a pawn - Imagine what you want to do with their weakness: usually the best piece to put is the knight (even more in close positions); before you have to identify and remove the main defender; you can create a weakness by spotting potential weakness and provoking the opponent, making the weakness real. (Think everytime of potential outpost.)

[@playerx-s4v]

Very good Stjepan

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks:)

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Thank you so much for this ❤

[@JishnuChatterjee]

Awesome concepts explained easily

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks a lot Jishnu!

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That's a very good video! Thank you very much...

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I do not even play Chess, but I subscribed. Excellent teaching.

[@HangingPawns]

Haha, thank you:) That really means a lot!

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Many thanks for a very interesting video.

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Thank you!

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You deserve a 🏅 thank you

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Thanks for the video